28 DECEMBER 1839, Page 1

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

tertain of a holyday. But, alas ! except by young gentlemen and ladies released from school, the idea is scarcely realized in this land of labour. No doubt, most shops and factories are closed, and there is a general cessation from ordinary occupations, for a single day; but even this slight remission of toil is too often pur- chased by extra exertion before and after. From this circum- stance alone we may conclude that an extensive change in the condition of' the bulk of the people is required. The Chartists are right in saying that labour in this country is not sufficiently remunerated, however crude and impracticable may be their plans for raising the rate of reward.

We have now touched upon the most important question of the -day—how to increase, not the nominal, but real wages of labour. They who have devoted the fullest knowledge and keenest atten- tion to this problem are convinced, that by admitting foreign grain duty-free in payment of manufactures, much would be effected towards improving the condition of all classes, but especially those who subsist by manual industry. They would therefore repeal the Corn-laws. But their efforts are unseconded by the working -classes : nay worse, they arc thwarted. Thus, at Glasgow, the Chartists resolved upon a rupture with the merchants and manufacturers who assembled to petition Parliament against the Corn-tax. They insisted upon clubbing the Suffrage question and the Corn question together ; and succeeded in stifling what might have been an important 'demonstration in favour of free trade. By this conduct an excuse is afforded to many timorous and lukewarm persons to abstain from active efforts against the existing law. Already there was too much cause to reproach the " money-lords" and the " cotton-lords" with cringing subserviency to the landed interest. Mr. GISItORNE, in a speech from which we give extracts, lectured Mr. CieuttEs HINDLEY and the class he represented at the Ashton dinner, for their meanness in this matter. The Glas- gow weavers, however, have furnished them with an apology for turning their backs on their " order."

We adhere to an opinion expressed some months ago, that the difficulties of the money-market—the liability to a drain of bullion on every recurrence of bad harvests—would have more effect in Parliament than out-of-door demonstration against. the Corn-laws, since it has become evident that the external agitation is not sup- ported by the physical force of the country. Still holding this opinion, we are more pleased than surprised to find a clever anta- gonist, the Morning Post, (who, be it mentioned without Aimee, is not only an avowed champion of the Land, but is also believed to have confidential intercourse with the Bank parlour,) lamenting the operation of the Duke of WELLINGTON'S bill in times of scarcity. In the following observations we entirely concur-

" The plain fact is, that we want wheat ; and we ought, instead of restrict- ing, to promote its coming in from any country that will give it us for some- thing else than gold. While our present currency-laws exist, we cannot afford to pay gold for it, even though we should be reduced almost to starvation- point. * * • It' America be indebted to us, as we believe she is—if she have wheat to pay us withal, as Mr. Webster Sly:: site has—if we really want an additional supply of good wheat itt order that oar population may have enough to vat of wholesome bread, which we believe we is plainly n great grievance that a proteeting-duty of 2s. 4d. the bushel should be levied upon wheat imported from America. fader present circumstances the duty is not a protection, but the reverse; and therefore we wish there were nothing but a mere registration-duty."

'We add nothing to impair the force of these truths, but recom- mend them to the earnest consideration of the Morning Posts friends of the landed interest.